Saying goodbye

It really was so sad the last night we spent in our first house. Rob had not felt sad at all until it was empty (except for the dog in his kennel and us with our plastic glasses of wine). We looked back over all we had done to make this little brown box our very own home. It didn't even look like the same house as when we moved in. We sat down with our plastic cups of wine and did a toast in honor of change. Leaving a bitter sweet chapter and starting a new adventure. We still have all the memories of making grilled ham and cheese sandwiches when Rob would get home from the restaurant at 10pm. Isabella was a little over a year and would wake up to see Daddy. Simpler times! Memories of finding out I was pregnant with Penelope the day we closed on the house and eventually bringing her home from the hospital! Rob joining the army....our late nights on the phone while he was in Korea. Those are very few of the memories good and bad. It was good to look at each other and know we understood what the other was feeling and we would both always have those memories together. Besides, we all need new adventures in our lives and we are ready!!

First post

First I want to say, I thought of the name of our blog when Rob and I went for our first youth group trip as chaperones. We'd only ever gone on trips as students so it was a funny feeling to be on the other side of it all! I've been waiting a long time to actually get to post something to our blog. As many of you know (from my notes on Facebook) Rob feels led to go into full time ministry. We recently got the opportunity to head in that direction with our church. So very exciting to see God's plan coming together. I hadn't even thought it could happen this quickly, but it has been very encouraging especially to Rob who feels very unfulfilled in his current job. Now we have moved into a new house. We are so excited about the house because it is a new start and large enough to have people over to minister to. So, within a few weeks Rob started an apprenticeship with church and we got a new house. God has been so very good to us and we are thankful. We prayed and prayed about this house that if it wasn't God's will for us to move and live in this house that He would make impossible for us to get it. Instead, He put it even further within our reach and we are thankful! The first night we actually got to stay here we sat down at the table and prayed together that this house would be a house that people can come to and feel welcome, to know they aren't judged and to know they can come to for help. We prayed that many people would come to know God in the walls of this house and those who already know Him would learn more about Him, their walks would be deepened through talks and discussions and encouragement. All we want is to share the blessings God has given us with others. We don't deserve anything He has given us and we haven't earned it. God has simply blessed us and all we want is to be used by Him to reach out to others. We pray our new house is used for His will.

More good news....we have figured out that Rob will get to start to seminary sooner than we originally thought. Can't wait! It is all so exciting and feels so right for the first time. I'm thankful that we have finally realized the calling God has for us as a couple and a family.

So to sum it all up, Rob is in an appreniceship with our church (this is so he can learn more while he goes through seminary), we have a new house that we pray is used for God's will and Rob gets to start seminary in a few months!

My least favorite part....unpacking! As soon as I can find our batteries for the camera I'll be sure to post some pics of my progress or lack of!

Be sure to check back for updates, it's an exciting time and a new start.